Apparatus for making button blanks from pearl stock



Dec. 17, 1935. c BENNETT 2,024,715

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BUTTON BLANKS FROM PEARL STOCK Filed NOV. 21, 1934 2 ShebS-ShGB'b 1 55 514355 INVENTOR igfi ATTORNEY 1935- w. c. BENNETT 2,024,715

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BUTTON BLANKS FROM PEARL STOCK File'd Nov. 21, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNlTED STA'l'g ENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FJEAKING BUTTON BLANKS FRQM PEARL S'EUQK 2 Claims.

This invention relates to in provements in devices for cutting button blanks from pearl stock, and more particularly to improved means for holding pearl stock during the cutting operation.

Heretofore, in apparatus for cutting buttons from pearl stock, there has been provided gripping means for holding the pearl stock during the cutting operation, it being usually the custom to arrange said gripping means about the periphery of a drum, which is intermittently rotated to successively bring pieces of pearl stock in o en a ment with circular saws.

Such devices have been objectionable in that they are expensive, it is inconvenient to place the pearl stock in the gripping means. Also, a circular saw has a tendency to rotate the stock, thus causing burrs and uneven surfaces.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for cutting buttons from pearl stock, having a support for the pearl stock during the cutting operation, which support has no means for gripping the pearl stock.

A further object is the provision of a block for holding pearl stock, which block is adjustable in two directions.

A further object is the provision of a block having means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the pearl stock therein, said means having point contact with an end of the stock so that regard ess of the unevenness of the end of the pearl stock, it will be properly positioned in the block.

A further object is the provision of apparatus for cutting buttons from pearl stock in which the buttons are automatically ejected as soon as they are cut.

These and other advantageous objects which will later appear are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my apparatus f or cutting buttons from pearl stock,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a piece of pearl stock,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a button blank cut from pearl stock,

Fig. 4 is an elevational view partly in section showing details of the apparatus during the cutting operation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan View showing details of the adjustable block,

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a block for pearl stock during the cutting operation,

Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11 are views showing steps in the process of cutting a button from pearl stock, and 6 Fig. 12 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 there is shown a supporting frame l having a table provided with a peripheral flange 3, see Fig. 4. Mounted on the table is a plate 4 having a dovetail groove receiving the dove-tail 5 of a plate 6, the latter being secured to the plate 5 by means of bolts '5. The plate 6 is provided with a dove-tail groove receiving the dove-tail 8 of a plate 9, 15 which is adjustably secured to the plate 6 by means of bolts it entering slots l i in the plate 5, see Figs. 4, 5, 6. The upper side of the plate 9 is provided with a groove in which is slidably posi tioned a block it for pearl stock. The block see Fig. '7, comprises substantially a metal block having a longitudinal semi-cylindrical groove l2 and a plurality of spaced transverse slots 53, which slots extend slightly below the bottom of the groove it so that when a button blank is cut from pearl stock the cutter will not strike the block I I. At one end of the block 5 i there i provided a screw it which projects into groove for the purpose of longitudinally positioning a piece of pearl stock in the groove l 2.

Pearl stock generally has uneven ends, although the main body of the stock may be cylindr t. Consequently, by providing a set screw it of considerably less diameter than the pearl stock a substantial point contact with the end of the pearl stock is obtained, which longitudinally positions the pearl stock without the tendency to wobble.

Projecting upwardly from the table 2 are cars IE on which is pivoted an arm !6 having at one end thereof a shaft I! to which is attached a pulley l8, and a plurality of cutters I9, the latter being made very thin from a suitable abrasive material.

Passing over the pulley I8 is a belt 2b which passes over pulley 22 attached to the shaft 23 of an electric motor 24 mounted on the upper side of the arm l6 adjacent the cars it. Supported by the arm I6 and covering the cutters i9 is a guard 25 to prevent scattering of pieces of pearl stock and dust during the cutting operation.

In operation, the cutters are brought downwardly into engagement with a piece of pearl stock resting on the block II, by applying pressure to a foot pedal 26 pivoted at 27 to a frame I.

7 upwarldy through the table.

The pedal 26 is connected to a link 28 which in turn is connected to another link 29, the latter being attached to the arm IS. The downward movement of the arm 16 is limited by means of a stop 30 comprising a threaded bolt passing through the arm I6 and engaging the table 2 when the cutters have been moved to the predetermined lowermost position.

7 Before the cutters engage the pearl stock they are caused to rotate at very high speed; and when the cutters engage the stock, the pressure of the cutters thereon holds the stock in position without rotation of any kind. During the cutting operation, considerable heat is generated and it is necessary to cool the cutters and the stock; and for this purpose I provide tubes 3| passing These tubes are positioned adjacent the pearl stock and cutters; and have curve-d ends to direct water passing through the tubes onto the stock and cutters. The water falls upon thetable 2 and is drained therefrom by means of a pipe 32.

When the cutting operation has been completed and the buttons severed from the pearl stock, the cutters automatically lift the buttons and eject them with great velocity from the block ll. Adjacent the block ll there'is provided a funnel 33 which receives the ejected buttons and directs them downwardly into a receptacle 35.

From the above description it is seen that I have provided a simple and relatively inexpensive machine for cutting buttons from pearl stock. With my machine, it is not necessary to This is of considerable advantage in view of the fact that in machines heretofore provided for cutting buttons in'pearl stock, it has been necessary'to manually'remove the cut buttons from the gripping devices'after the cutting operations.

In Fig. 12 is shown a modified form of my invention in which the cutters 39 are mounted upon a shaft it of an electric motor supported by the frame 4|, the latter being mounted upon the table 2. In accordance with this form of the device, the pearl stock is moved upwardly into engagement with'the rotating cutter. To accomplish this, the block H and its associated adjustable plates 9, 6 and 4 are mounted upon a block 42 having depending ears 43 provided with a pin 44 moving in a slot 45 in the downturned end 46 of the lever arm 4'1, the lever being pivoted at 48 to the frame I and having a downwardly extending arm 49 adapted to be engaged by a foot.

In operation, the downward pressure upon the arm 49 rotates the lever and causes the arm 41 to move upwardly to carry the block 42 and pearl stock upwardly therewith into engagement with the cutters 39. The downward movement of the block 42 is limited by a rod 50 which engages a bar 5| on a small frame 52 depending from the lower side of the table 2. The upward movement of the block 42 is limited by a flange 53 on the rod 50 which engages a bar 54 on the frame 52.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed ineluding many modifications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus for cutting button blanks from pearl stock, a base, a block mounted on the base and having a horizontal longitudinal groove and a plurality of transverse slots, said slots extending below the bottom of the groove, a pivotally mounted arm, a plurality of spaced thin parallel cutters of abrasive material mounted at one extremity of the arm and arranged to enter the slots in the block, means to rotate said cutters at high speed, means to move the arm to cause the cutters to press downwardly on the stock by force of gravity, and means tolimit the downward movement of said arm, said button blanks after being completely cut from the stock being ejected from the block at high velocity by frictional engagement with the cutters rotating at high speed, and. a funnel member to receive the ejected button blanks and direct them into a receptacle. 7

2. In an apparatus for cutting button blanks from pearl stock, a block having a horizontal longitudinal groove and a plurality of transverse slots extending below the bottom of the groove, a plurality of spaced thin parallel cutters of abrasive material arranged to enter the slots in the block, supporting means to cause the cutters to press downwardly on the stock by force of gravity, means to rotate the cutters at high speed, said button blanks after being completely out from the stock being ejected from the block at high velocity by frictional contact with the cutters rotating at high speed, and means in the path of the ejected button blanks to direct them into a receptacle. 7 55 WILLIAM C. BENNETT. 

